New York City Mayor Eric Adams has tabled a $1,000 reward for information that could lead to the arrest of a wrong-way driver who killed a groom-to-be and his cousin on the eve of his wedding.
As previously reported by Face2Face Africa, the fatal August 24 incident occurred on the Henry Hudson Parkway in New York City. The 38-year-old groom-to-be, Kirk Walker, was set to get married the following day. Walker’s cousin, Robert McLaurin, 40, was also killed in the crash. Authorities said the wrong-way driver fled the scene in the wake of the fatal crash.
Adams tabled the offer during his weekly press briefing at City Hall on Tuesday, the New York Post reported. “Any accident is a terrible accident but some of them turn into Shakespearean tragedies,” Adams told reporters.
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Adams said he was sure New York residents would identify the suspected fugitive and also encouraged the public to come forward with any information they could have. “I’m just going to put $1,000 of my own personal money to call for the arrest and conviction of this person,” he announced.
Police in the wake of the incident said that Walker and McLaurin were killed in a head-on crash, adding that a wrong-way driver rammed into a Dodge Challenger vehicle the deceased men were riding in, CBS News reported. In the wake of the fatal crash, police said the wrong-way driver exited the vehicle and fled the scene.
Police also said the wrong-way driver was in the car with a passenger who sustained injuries from the crash. That passenger subsequently received treatment at a hospital while Walker and McLaurin were pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities said the wrong-way driver was yet to be apprehended.
“We’re supposed to be at my wedding right now. This is supposed to be a wedding at the Royal Manor, not a celebration of death,” Walker’s fiancée, Shauntea Weaver, said at a vigil on Sunday, which was supposed to be their wedding day.
Weaver also described the fatal incident as “unbelievable” and “reckless.” “Kirk was amazing. He was the best, best person ever,” she told CBS News. Walker’s father, Kirk Walker Sr., also touched on how he was feeling. “My heart aches so much, and I’m really angry. I’m angry,” he revealed.
Adams also told reporters that he spoke to Walker’s mother on Tuesday. “Just a horrific, horrific incident, crash and the family is devastated,” he said. “The mom wasn’t able to hold it together. I spoke to the sister as well.”
The family is planning on having a memorial ceremony at the crash scene, the New York Post reported. Adams said they’re “going to do everything” they “can to coordinate.”
“Number one, I want to bring closure, to apprehend the [driver],” Adams added. “And number two, to allow them to have some sort of closure at the site.”
